TYPES OF ROCK & THE ROCK CYCLE

There are three types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous

and metamorphic. Each type of rock in formed in a different
way. Sedimentary rock is formed from the compacting and
cementing of sediments (sand, pebbles and rock fragments)
over a period of time. Weathering and erosion on the
surface of the Earth creates the sediments that form these
types of rocks which are deposited in layers.
Igneous rock (fire rock) is formed from the cooling
and solidification of magma and lava. Igneous rocks may
form with or without crystals depending on how fast it cools.
Rocks that cool quickly will have small or no crystals while
slow cooling rocks will have large crystals. Plate tectonics
is responsible for volcanic activity and mountain building.
These activities cause magma within the Earth to be pushed
up to the surface where it cools to form igneous rocks.
Metamorphic rock is existing rock (sedimentary or
igneous) that has changed form due to intense heat and
pressure beneath the Earths surface. Metamorphic rock
makes up a large part of Earths crust.
The rock cycle is a pattern of cycling of matter on
Earth as one rock type is changed into another. Erosion,
weathering, heat, pressure, melting, cooling, compacting and
cementing can change the identity of a rock as it goes
through the rock cycle. See the picture to the left of the rock
cycle.